Calif: Withering heat killing dairy cows, chickens, and turkeys

[Kadie]

Withering heat killing dairy cows
Estimated 1 percent of herds down; poultry losses also high


By ROGER W. HOSKINS
BEE STAFF WRITER


Last Updated: July 25, 2006, 06:39:37 AM PDT


The heat wave is punishing Stanislaus County's dairy and poultry industries.

Veterinarians and industry estimates indicate about 1 percent of the county's milk-producing dairy cows have died. That would represent about 1,400 cows. Dairy operators in Stanislaus keep 13 percent of their herds dry, or non-milk producing. None of the dry cows are in danger.

The health of the dairy industry matters in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, where milk is the top farm product, bringing an estimated $1.6 billion in gross income to farmers in 2004. Dairies grossed $550 million in Stanislaus County alone in 2005.

And heat-related ag problems go beyond the dairy industry.

County officials said poultry losses are at 1 million pounds, with hundreds of thousands of chickens and turkeys dead.

more...
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/12498932p-13215083c.html

[Dover]

1. Is the way these animals are kept part of the problem?

I once had a car breakdown near a chicken farm. I called the tow truck from the farmer's house and while we waited for the tow to arrive he showed me his operation. He opened a big barn door and revealed, literally, wall to wall chickens. There was absolutely no space between them. He snickered and told me that they were' free roam'. He said in order to please the holistic food store that would only buy free roam chickens and to be able to turn a profit he was meeting both requirements by stuffing his space with as many chickens as he could...without cages.

It is easy to see how diseases and heat could impact similar ag animal facilities.

[cornermouse]

2. Any trees left in the pastures for the cows to shelter under

or did they cut them all down to increase the amount of grass for the cows?